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Ultron
Mar 24, 2006 9:21:55 GMT -5
Post by Shiryu on Mar 24, 2006 9:21:55 GMT -5
Let's talk a bit about our favorire killing machine. What do you think of this guy and of the idea behind him (kind of "cold machine vs humanity"), which storyline of his do you prefer, what would you like him to do etc ?
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Ultron
Mar 24, 2006 12:59:20 GMT -5
Post by dlw66 on Mar 24, 2006 12:59:20 GMT -5
I do not like any stories where Ultron calls Hank Pym "daddy". I just hate those. While I don't mind the psychological side of the story, the speech used doesn't always come across as malevolently sarcastic -- often it comes to me as overtly silly.
I do, however, enjoy stories where he is seemingly undefeatable -- many of us have commented on the Perez stories in the 160's that were so good. I liked early in his "career" the various incarnations through which he would evolve: Ultron-6, Ultron-7 and so on.
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Ultron
Mar 24, 2006 15:08:23 GMT -5
Post by scottharris on Mar 24, 2006 15:08:23 GMT -5
I was actually a big fan of the Ultron Mark 12 story in WCA #7. I thought it was an interesting take on the evolution of the character -- since Ultron is usually portrayed as the robotic equivalent of an emotional juvenile in his relationship with Hank Pym, a story where he finally matures into a more adult mindset is logica, and I liked the sotry itself.
The Ultron fight in #161-162, though, is about the coolest thing ever. I also like the Ultron/Vision story in #66-68.
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Ultron
Mar 24, 2006 15:14:08 GMT -5
Post by Van Plexico on Mar 24, 2006 15:14:08 GMT -5
The gold standard (or adamantium standard) of Ultron appearances has to be #161-162, with its bookend of 170-171.
The Avengers against the ultimate unbeatable foe. He kills half of them (or so it seems), then taunts the survivors with the knowledge that they can't beat him. Thor, Wonder Man, Iron Man-- all being taunted at the same time, by a villain who's mopping up the floor of Stark Long Island with them. Amazing. Awe-inspiring.
That said, I thought Kurt's Ultron storyline in volume 3 was wonderful. For me, it lacked just a little of that "power and glory" that Shooter conveyed as well as anyone ever has, but made up for it with the things Kurt specializes in-- carefully plotted and logical storylines with good characterization and solid dialogue.
Same with Kurt's Kang story. Right up there near the top, with the other greatest storylines in Avengers history, but not *quite* on the mountaintop. Quality, quality, quality, but just a little tiny something missing.
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Ultron
Mar 25, 2006 10:39:44 GMT -5
Post by Shiryu on Mar 25, 2006 10:39:44 GMT -5
I haven't read every single Ultron appearance, but so far I agree with Van, in those issues the Avengers seem sure to die and yet they go fighting, showing some real heroism. Pity I read it in reprint, so I new everyone survived, but it must have been quite shocking when it came out. Second place goes to Ultron Unlimited, an amazing saga which really showed Ultron as a mass-murdering machine. The following battle with hundreds of Ultron was epic for me. Third place would to to the second part of the Ultron bride story. It was very nice, but kind of missed something for me. Finally, a special mention for Ultron in Secret Wars. I like the way he attacks everyone at the beginning, forcing even Dr. Doom to take evasive action. Lovely the way Galactus "shuts him off" with a single gesture though.
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Ultron
Mar 25, 2006 16:34:25 GMT -5
Post by Van Plexico on Mar 25, 2006 16:34:25 GMT -5
#162 was the first comic I ever read. I had heard of Captain America and a couple of the others (probably by seeing them on some other kid's lunchbox at elementary school) and then I open the comic and they're bringing out his corpse, along with the others. I was stunned. When they face Ultron again in 171, I was scared to death-- I had no clue how they'd keep from all being killed. Man, Shooter kicked my butt on his first run of AVENGERS. I'm sure I'd have loved it a lot more if I'd not been so jaded on Ultron by that point. Those stories hit an 8 yr old a lot harder than an adult. But I can't imagine that story being done much better than Kurt and George did it. Intellectually I respect it, even if it didn't wring me out emotionally like the ones did when I was little. Galactus is the will and the way! He eats adamantium robots for breakfast. ;D
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Ultron
Mar 26, 2006 9:29:22 GMT -5
Post by Frank on Mar 26, 2006 9:29:22 GMT -5
Avengers 161 was my first time seeing Ultron and it just blew me away!
This scary looking robot, who EVERYONE seemed afraid of, just burst into the mansion out of nowhere and destroys the Avengers with ease. Then he sucks Hank into his finger and calls him "father" and turns out the light "on the era of the Avengers" as they lay defeated. I fell in love with that character ever since. Here was the Avengers Dr Doom I thought to myself.
Then the next issue with the surviving members looking for revenge, which set up Wonder Man's fear of dying stage and the introduction of Jocasta, what else can I say? The ending was great too. When everyone is trying to figure out who sent the "ant messege", the Panther says that maybe Jocasta was more like Jan than even Ultron knew, man, that was great!
Needless to say, I really liked those two issues. ;D
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Ultron
Mar 26, 2006 9:33:32 GMT -5
Post by Shiryu on Mar 26, 2006 9:33:32 GMT -5
Those stories hit an 8 yr old a lot harder than an adult. But I can't imagine that story being done much better than Kurt and George did it. Intellectually I respect it, even if it didn't wring me out emotionally like the ones did when I was little. I think that the first good stories of a character that we read tend to take a place in our fan-hearts, and it's difficult for following sagas to replace them. I enjoyed Ultron Unlimited a lot because it was the first full Ultron Saga I read (good for me it was well done, it prompted me to buy the others when they came out as part of some TPB), and yet, being nearly 24, it probably didn't emotionally strike me as much as it must have done with some kids. I kind of new everybody would have survived or, at least, would have come back to life at some point. Having said that, I totally believe that an issue like 161, ending with Ultron who, literally, switches off the lights of the Avengers, must have had quite an impact on young readers Man, that robot earned a place in people's nightmares from there on!
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Ultron
Mar 27, 2006 10:56:49 GMT -5
Post by bobc on Mar 27, 2006 10:56:49 GMT -5
I like when he calls people "miserable fleshbags ." It's really creepy.
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Ultron
Mar 27, 2006 11:59:22 GMT -5
Post by dlw66 on Mar 27, 2006 11:59:22 GMT -5
I think my first memory of Ultron was in the Crystal/Quicksilver wedding issues when he was masquerading as a giant named Omega. The last panel in the first story (can't remember if it was the FF or Avengers issue) was awesome!!
Perez's four-parter in 161-62 and then finishing about 8 issues later is still the best.
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Ultron
Apr 20, 2007 10:05:29 GMT -5
Post by Nutcase65 on Apr 20, 2007 10:05:29 GMT -5
Ultron is one of the few comic book characters that actually scares me. I see him and go, Oh crap! I think this is for the same reason that the Terminator movies scare me. It's too easy to imagine some well meaning person here in the real world creating a machine that could destroy us all as a result of its programming. and we don't have any super-heroes to protect us.
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Ultron
Apr 21, 2007 14:10:39 GMT -5
Post by perceval on Apr 21, 2007 14:10:39 GMT -5
Agreed with everybody else on the Shooter/Perez stories being the definitive Ultron. There was the perfect Avengers arch-nemesis, not just able to go head to head with them physically, but messing with them psychologically, as well, because of the close relationships with members of the team. Speaking of which, I really wish they'd not broken up Wanda and the Vision. That was the most disfunctional extended family in comics on both sides.
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Ultron
Apr 26, 2007 18:09:40 GMT -5
Post by Crimson Cowl on Apr 26, 2007 18:09:40 GMT -5
My favourite Ultron story and the most brilliant characterization of him was actually in the Nocenti/Romita Jr Daredevils. It was a two issue story (Acts of Vengeance tie-in) c.ish 276 I think.
In the Avengers the Shooter/Perez ones in 161-2 and 170-1 I would agree are definitive.
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fiero84
Probationary Avenger
Posts: 88
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Ultron
Apr 30, 2007 14:00:56 GMT -5
Post by fiero84 on Apr 30, 2007 14:00:56 GMT -5
I first heard of Ultron while reading Machine Man in the 80's.
I didn't know what to make of a 'Robot' whom was very concerned about Earth and it's environment. (least that's what he declared his battle against mankind was about to MM)
I must admit it's different than most created Robot invaders whom seem to just be 'following orders' whether it be from: Dr.Doom, an Alien, or some dormant leftover from years past.
It was interesting to see the 'Jocasta' character float between issues of Iron Man and Machine man.
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Ultron
Apr 30, 2007 21:03:36 GMT -5
Post by Nutcase65 on Apr 30, 2007 21:03:36 GMT -5
Finished Ultron Unlimited, It was a pretty good story. If one Ultron isn't enough, take hundreds. If that's not enough throw in mamatron. I'm not gonna sleep for weeks.
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Ultron
May 4, 2007 12:28:30 GMT -5
Post by Crimson Cowl on May 4, 2007 12:28:30 GMT -5
I was wondering what some of you thought about the appearance of Ultron in Daredevil 275-6 that I mentioned earlier. Whilst there have been many great Avengers stories featuring him he's always been a rather limited character (there's only so many times you can do genocidal robot ot 'bride of Frankenstein' and keep it interesting). I thought the way that Nocenti got inside his head to show the nature of Ultron's insanity and the terrifying logic of the thinking computer opened up great potential for the character.
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